Wednesday, January 19, 2011

During the past few snow storms AlbanyCity DGS did a good job of plowing NewScotland Avenue. They finally got itright?

Hardly, the Albany City DGS suffereda relapse with the January 18 storm.

City plows kept the 2 center lanes ofNew Scotland Ave clear, but allowedthe snow and sludge to accumulate inthe curb parking lanes all day. Fromtime to time a plow or bucket loaderwould pass by, pushing more sludgehigher into the curb lanes.

As good senior citizens, residents on New Scotland between the intersections of Buckingham-Lenox and Krum KillRd, dutifully cleared our walks and driveways.

About 2000 hours I looked out myfront door. Our sidewalks and drivewayentrances were still clear.

As I turned and closed the door, Icould hear a freight train rumblingsound. Instantly, I knew what wascoming. Two, large city trucks withplows, came roaring down the Northside curb lane heading outbound onNew Scotland Avenue.

A tsunami of heavy, dirty snow/saltsludge broke before the speedingtruck-plows as they passed by, ourdriveway entrances, curbside grassislands and sidewalks were inundated.

If citizens had failed to clear their walksthey would be subject stiff fines. Whowill fine the City DGS?

Last year, we lost a fine sugar maplewe planted at curbside, 23 years agobecause of this annual assault ofexcessive salt dumping and incompetentplowing, by City DGS.

The other street trees along the avenueare not faring any better. Nor, are theroad surface, the exteriors of our homesour expensive vehicles, and our own health ,as the years of municipal stupidiltyand abuse, take their toll.

Against my better judgment, at theinsistence of Margaret, this pastFall, I planted a small red maplewhere the sugar maple , once stoodat curbside. I told Margaret thatthe little tree would stand a betterchance of survival, if it were plantedon the front lawn, away from thecurb island. Just like talking to the City officials, and DGS, I waswasting my breath.

I looked at my increased cityproperty tax bill, due by January31 and cursed the Mayor, CityCouncil, City DGS and CountyLegislature for their stupidityincompetence and tone deafnesswhen it comes to excessive saltdumping on and snowplowing of city streets.

Mayor Tom Whalen and HarryMicheals did it right years ago.

Two graders, in tandem, wouldslowly plow New Scotland Ave outbound, then inbound, notallowing snow and salt sludgeto pile up in the curb parking lanes all day. Not speeding bycreating a tsunami wave of dirtyheavy snow/salt sludge, in theevening hours ,after residentshad cleared their walks and driveways!

When talking with a City crewone day, I mentioned this. Theyagreed with me, but said the Citydid not have graders anymore.

Well, why not hire them alongwith all the other trucks, plowsand bucketloaders, the Citycontracts with to supplementCity DGS snow plowing efforts?

I was going to call the Mayor'soffice this morning...but I concluded that I would onlybe wasting my breath.

No use trying to rally theneighbors to call their electedofficials to remedy these abusesand assaults perpetrated inthe name of government.

The neighbors are like sheepwho only bleat and appear at thepolls, now and then, to vote thefamilair party line.

They are living lives of quiet desperation and denialseemingly oblivious to theirfates.

Friday, January 07, 2011

Our neighborhood association has been amajor factor in maintaining and improving the residential integrity and environmentalquality of our neighborhood for the past23 years.

We have defeated land use and zoning changes that would have adversely impactedour neighborhood, and adjacent neighborhoods.

We were instrumental in the creationof Buckingham Pond Park and setting asideopen spaces including the acre green spaceand conifer buffer at Krum Kill/New Scotlandthe green space at the SW corner of SouthManning /New Scotland.

We have worked to keep graffiti, vandalismand crime at a minimum in our neighborhood.

2011 presents many challenges for ourneighborhood.

1. Traffic/Pedestrian Safety. In the past weekthere have been a number of auto accidentsin the vicinity of New Scotland Ave, Krum KillRd and Buckingham Dr., which have resultedin serious injuries and one death.

The root causes of these accidents include: execessive speed, reckless driving and failure of drivers and pedestrians to be alert to what theyare doing , to road conditions and towhat is going on around them.

Speeding traffic on main roads like New Scotland, Western, South Manning Whitehall, Krum Kill, Buckingham and many tributary residential streets is a serious problem that needs the attention of the Albany Police andthe Mayor.

We promoted retention/improvement of Crestwood Plaza as a neighborhood commercial plaza.

Current plaza management needs to improve the appearance of the plazaby litter control and landscaping/plantings including flowers and flowering bushes/trees.

3. The SW Corner of Whitehall at New Scotland

We promoted clean up and removal of thederelict former gas station and successfullyopposed further commercial developmentof that 3/4 acre parcel. We advocated thatthe developer of the adjacent condos deedthe parcel as park land to the city as partof thec condo development approval. Thiswas done.

We have recommended that the parcel bededicated as the Dan O'Connell MemorialPocket Park, landscaped with a rollingberms, planted with a mix of conifersharwoods, flowering shrubs and perennialflowers. Also, a few benches, a flagpole anda small stone/plaque in memory of Danwho lived father down Whitehall Rd forthe latter years of his life. This remainsto be done by the City in cooperation withthe condo developer.

4. The Stewart's Shop: Whitehallat New Scotland.

We have worked with Stewart's managementto make their store a successful venture inharmony with our neighborhood.

Our efforts with regard to the 3/4 acreparcel across the street, have helpedassure the success of the Stewart's shop.

The Stewart's shop will undergo changethis year. The store will be relocated onthe green space adjacent to the existingstore which will be razed for an expandedparking lot and expansion of gas pumpsand canopy.

We have urged Stewart's to save thefine Oak located where the currentgreen space meets the existing parkinglot, bordering the entrance from NewScotland Ave.

This can be accomplished by leavingit where it is, or moving the tree tothe park parcel across the street.

At the recent meeting regarding theStewart's expansion, we observed thatexpansion of the gas pump islands andcanopy was questionable, and thatestablishment of a traffic entranceand exit flow pattern would be essentialto avoid an increase of vehicle/pedestrianaccidents.

Just recently, a man was hit in thecrosswalk at Whitehall/New Scotland.

5.The 7 acre parcel Krum Kill atNew Scotland

We defeated two atttempts to locatea big box store on that parcel.

The parcel is privately owned.

We have recommended that the Citywork out a transfer of developmentrights plan whereby the parcel ownersdeed the parcel to the City as parklandand in return receive property of equalvalue downtown or elsewhere in thecity.

We have further recommended thatthe 7 acre parcel front on Krum Killand New Scotland, be connected withthe 5 acre landlocked parcel whichhas be rezoned Land Conservation, atour urging, and the 10 acre parceladjacent to the Stewarts shop andCrescent Dr, which is City owned,to form a 23 Acre NeighborhoodGreenbelt.